So you can buy these cheap airfares within 14 days of your flight? Within 7 days? And still get your upgrade? Thought not.

Why would a discussion of deep discount fares have any bearing at all on the last-minute traveler?

But since you raise the issue, let's have a look: departure in 24-36 hours, Thursday 10/8, JFK-LHR, returning next week. DL's lowest roundtrip fare is a Q, at $1610. AA's is a K, at $1670. The K is upgradable, for SWU or miles+copay. Expert Flyer reports there are 2 flights (out of 5) with upgrade seats available at this moment. DL is not offering an M, but there is a B at $2066. It would beat the copay, but not the SWU, in this instance.

Moving up the price scale a tad, both DL and AA are selling a late-purchase I fare, discount Business, at $2221 round-trip. AA's is upgradable to 3-class First, if A inventory is available. 3 out of 5 flights have A seats available, as of this moment.

Because this was NOT a discussion of "deep discount" fares. It was a discussion about how AA's SWU's and int'l upgrading are so "superior" to Delta's.

"last-minute"? No, I gave 7 and 14 day thresholds, you have given a 1-2 day threshold. I do not consider 7-14 days in advance to be "last minute" I consider it regular or in fact a bit of advance purchase. I consider last minute both for business and personal to be within 48 hours.

Thank you for pointing out another key point, that the JFK-LHR route is perhaps the only route on which AA and DL compete in both airlines European networks, and they have only in fact competed on it for a year or so, another factor ignored by many.

I did not compare my benefits from DL Platinum with AA until today. Of course it is with EXP not Plat at AA.
1. AA has a dedicated line that answers immediately DL has a number that eventually answers and sometimes is aware that it is Platinum, but cannot do a hot transfer nor answer any questions of substance.
2. AA online recognizes the status and allows many transactions easily. DL does not have personalized data available, forcing the calls in 1 above.
3. Members Choice is absurd! eVIP's clear, always, sometimes far ahead sometimes not and they allow switching flights at the last minute for no fee to get the eVIP. Standy for the upgrade!? ridiculous, and they require higher fare classes than do those of AA.
4. DL has not sent credentials after months. AA sends them on qualification.
With that, SM has my use only because I often fly AF and FB is even worse!

I am brand new to this forum, but wanted to share my frustration with Delta

I just called to inquire about the promised upgrades on award travel. The representative told me that "they're re-thinkin' that" because they realize it will piss off the Gold and Platinum folks who are paying $1000 for their ticket and don't get upgraded because of someone who's traveling on free miles.

She said the upgrade on award travel has not been implemented and that it probably won't ever be. "Don't expect to ever see that", she said.

This annoys me. How do you promise something and make big announcements about it, then get rid of that benefit without telling anyone? They continue to disappoint. . . .

Signed, A Platinum Member

Sorry, but I don't buy it. Award tickets are specifically designed to be upgradable *after* all elites, including Silvers, have been upgraded. So in other words, the chance of an award ticket upgrade are incredibly small to begin with.

The Gold/Plat who buys a $1000 ticket (which I suppose implies they are buying it last minute??) will still be higher on the upgrade list over someone on an award ticket based on how it's supposed to work*. So I wouldn't get too upset by what this uninformed agent has told you.

-RM
* - I say "supposed to work" because it's not defined yet what happens in a gate upgrade situation. Will the Diamond on an award ticket rank higher than a Plat on a revenue ticket (except "Y" class) at the gate? Technically the answer should be "no" but Delta hasn't implemented award ticket upgrades yet so it's an unknown.

The person you spoke to must not have got the memo.

https://www.delta.com/skymiles/about...ates/index.jsp

Award upgrades are coming maybe as soon as September for all of the Medallion levels except for Silver.